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The Fat Boys were a hip hop trio of rappers from Brooklyn who emerged in the early 1980s. Originally they were known as The Disco Three. Apparently the group's name was changed after their manager Charles Stettler complained about how much the trio ate during an early European tour. The Fat Boys were:

• Mark "Prince Markie Dee" Morales,
• Damon "Kool Rock-Ski" Wimbley, and
• Darren "Buff the Human Beat Box" Robinson (a.k.a. Buff Love, Buffy)

Unlike many of the streetwise images of the genre, the Fat Boys were known for their offbeat and friendly style. Much of their material involved the pleasures of food and drink as well as partying and sexual escapades. Buffy, the Human Beat Box, was a pioneer in beatboxing (using his mouth to portray the typical hip hop percussion "scratch 'n mix" sounds). His distinctive talent was influential to the genre as well as a noticeable hook to get the Fat Boys noticed. Buffy and another contemporary Doug E. Fresh popularized beatboxing, inspiring other artists to innovate, including Biz Markie and later, others such as Rahzel.

For their 1987 album, Crushin', the Fat Boys re-made a version of the Surfaris' hit "Wipe Out", with the Beach Boys singing back-up vocals. The single made it to #12 on the Billboard Pop chart, and #10 on R&B. The Fat Boys also recorded a version of the Twist with Chubby Checker himself.

Capitalizing on their good humored personalities, the trio starred in a Hollywood feature film, Disorderlies, which also featured Ralph Bellamy as an invalid millionaire who receives bumbling care by his good-natured orderlies (played by the Fat Boys).

The group's popularity waned by the '90s, and Prince Markie Dee left the group to pursue solo interests. Regardless, they are fondly regarded as a seminal part of early rap music recording (and video) history. Although there was talk of a Fat Boys reunion, nothing was released. On Dec 10, 1995, Darren "Buffy the Human Beat Box" Robinson died of a heart attack in Rosedale, New York. He was 28 years old and reportedly 450 lbs.